Government forms EGoM to supervise 3G telephony

Published: Monday, July 13, 2009, 21:32 [IST]

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New Delhi, July 13(ANI): The government has constituted an 'Empowered Group of Ministers' (EGoM) to supervise the spectrum for 3G telephony that will revolutionise the technology through which data is received and transferred from mobile phones.

According to reports, there would be nine ministers in the EGoM, which would be lead by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Other ministers in the panel would include P Chidambaram, A K Antony, Veerappa Moily, Sharad Pawar, A Raja, Ambika Soni, Prithviraj Chavan and Montek Sigh Ahluwalia.

EGoM would look into matters regarding the quantum of 3G spectrum to be auctioned, number of operators in each telecom circle, annual spectrum charges and additional administrative charge, the reserve price for 3G and broadband wireless services (WiMax) and the fee to be paid to the auctioneer.

Earlier, government had decided to auction 3G spectrum at a reserve price of Rs 4,040 crore to at least six private operators besides state-owned MTNL and BSNL. (ANI)